Seattle Syndrome Volume One
Encyclopedia
Seattle Syndrome Volume One is a compilation of Seattle-based bands and artists released on vinyl and cassette in late 1981 on Engram Records. Supervised by former Telepaths guitarist Homer Spence, Danny Eskenazi (who also bankrolled the project) and local promoter Neil Hubbard, and recorded and engineered by Jack Weaver, the compilation features many of the well-known bands of the late seventies and early eighties punk rock
, new wave
and experimental music scene of Seattle
, as well as including bands from Washington state. Music journalist Clark Humphrey describes "Seattle Syndrome" both as "the first definitive document of the Seattle new-music scene" and "a souvenir of a time that was already moving on", since eight of the fifteen bands represented on the record had already disbanded by the time of its release.
, Soundgarden
or The Young Fresh Fellows. Hardcore punk bands The Fartz
(who would later evolve into Ten Minute Warning, also of considerable influence on the following generation of Seattle underground rock bands) and The Refuzors contribute songs as well as long-lasting power pop
trio, The Fastbacks. Jim Basnight of punk pioneers The Meyce and later of power poppers The Moberlys is featured with his solo song We'll Always Be in Love. Finally, electronic and avant garde projects like Savant, Danny Eskenazi's own K7SS or Audio Leter side project Body Falling Downstairs were also included to present a comprehensive picture of the Seattle underground music scene. On the other hand, popular and also commercially successful Seattle power pop bands like The Heats or The Cowboys had been consciously omitted from the record because, according to Neil Hubbard as quoted by Stephen Tow, "[they] were not a part of the creative scene that later blossomed into the grunge
scene."
) or glam punk band The Fags (New York City
) – only found little success abroad and split up shortly afterwards.
Music historian Stephen Tow regards the first volume of "Seattle Syndrome" as "a critical yardstick in the history of underground Seattle music", ranking in with other influential compilations like "Deep Six
" (released in 1986 on C/Z Records
) or "Sub Pop 200
" (released in 1988 on Sub Pop Records). In fact, "Deep Six" producer and C/Z founder Chris Hanzsek
, then living in Boston, is reported to have been inspired by the "Syndrome" compilation to move to Seattle, start his own record label and, ultimately, release his own compilation of the burgeoning Seattle music scene.
The album's cover art contains a picture by Mark Strathy, now Professor of Art at Central Connecticut State University
in New Britain, Connecticut
.
A sequel to "Seattle Syndrome Volume One" followed in 1982 entitled "Seattle Syndrome Two", once again presenting underground bands and artists from Seattle.
Side B
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, new wave
New Wave
-Movements in film:* Australian New Wave* French New Wave, or Nouvelle Vague, the inaugural New Wave cinema movement* Indian New Wave, or Parallel Cinema, which began around the same time as the French New Wave...
and experimental music scene of Seattle
Music of Seattle
The music of Seattle has long played a role in the development of the music of Washington State. The "Seattle Sound" was at one time a field of alternative rock that produced the sub-genre grunge and major bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam...
, as well as including bands from Washington state. Music journalist Clark Humphrey describes "Seattle Syndrome" both as "the first definitive document of the Seattle new-music scene" and "a souvenir of a time that was already moving on", since eight of the fifteen bands represented on the record had already disbanded by the time of its release.
The bands
Among the fifteen bands and artists contributing to the record are the regionally successful X-15 and The Pudz with their respective tracks Vaporized and Take Me to Your (Leader) as well as post punk acts such as The Blackouts and The Beakers who were considered very influential on certain bands of the later grunge scene such as The U-MenThe U-Men
The U-Men were a Seattle-based post-punk band active in the early to late 1980s. They toured extensively across America and even had a song by the Butthole Surfers named in their honor...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
or The Young Fresh Fellows. Hardcore punk bands The Fartz
The Fartz
The Fartz were originally formed in 1981 and were one of the first well-known hardcore bands from Seattle, Washington. They were signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Record label...
(who would later evolve into Ten Minute Warning, also of considerable influence on the following generation of Seattle underground rock bands) and The Refuzors contribute songs as well as long-lasting power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
trio, The Fastbacks. Jim Basnight of punk pioneers The Meyce and later of power poppers The Moberlys is featured with his solo song We'll Always Be in Love. Finally, electronic and avant garde projects like Savant, Danny Eskenazi's own K7SS or Audio Leter side project Body Falling Downstairs were also included to present a comprehensive picture of the Seattle underground music scene. On the other hand, popular and also commercially successful Seattle power pop bands like The Heats or The Cowboys had been consciously omitted from the record because, according to Neil Hubbard as quoted by Stephen Tow, "[they] were not a part of the creative scene that later blossomed into the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
scene."
Title and influence
The title "Seattle Syndrome" refers to the predicament Seattle based bands found themselves in during the late seventies and early eighties, described by Neil Hubbard as the fact that "a Seattle band could produce stunning renditions of highly original tunes, to little or no support. You could do anything here, good or bad, and nobody would care." However, due to the then underdeveloped touring and promotion circuit for underground music, almost all of the bands who left Seattle for other cities – such as the Blackouts (BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
) or glam punk band The Fags (New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) – only found little success abroad and split up shortly afterwards.
Music historian Stephen Tow regards the first volume of "Seattle Syndrome" as "a critical yardstick in the history of underground Seattle music", ranking in with other influential compilations like "Deep Six
Deep Six
Deep Six may refer to:*Deep Six , a 1986 compilation album*Deep Six , a Dirk Pitt adventure novel by Clive Cussler*Deep Six , a group of fiscally conservative members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada...
" (released in 1986 on C/Z Records
C/Z Records
C/Z Records is a Seattle-based record label that was established in early 1985 by Chris Hanzsek and Tina Casale with the release of the now-legendary, Deep Six LP, which collected the earliest recordings of the real pro-genitors of what later came to be known as grunge...
) or "Sub Pop 200
Sub Pop 200
Sub Pop 200 is a compilation released in the early days of the Seattle grunge scene . It features songs from Tad, The Fluid, Nirvana, Steven Jesse Bernstein, Mudhoney, The Walkabouts, Terry Lee Hale, Soundgarden, Green River, Fastbacks, Blood Circus, Swallow, Chemistry Set, Girl Trouble, The...
" (released in 1988 on Sub Pop Records). In fact, "Deep Six" producer and C/Z founder Chris Hanzsek
Chris Hanzsek
Chris Hanzsek is an American musical engineer and record producer currently living in Snohomish, Washington. He was co-founder, with then partner Tina Casale, of C/Z Records and their recording studio, Reciprocal Recording, in 1984...
, then living in Boston, is reported to have been inspired by the "Syndrome" compilation to move to Seattle, start his own record label and, ultimately, release his own compilation of the burgeoning Seattle music scene.
The album's cover art contains a picture by Mark Strathy, now Professor of Art at Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
in New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
.
A sequel to "Seattle Syndrome Volume One" followed in 1982 entitled "Seattle Syndrome Two", once again presenting underground bands and artists from Seattle.
Track listing
Side A- "Vaporized" - X-15X-15 (band)X-15 is an American rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1979 by lead singer Kelly Mitchell, guitarist Eric Alton, bass player Tim Lollar, keyboardist Erik Rohrer, and drummer Todd Fuhs...
- "Take Me to Your (Leader)" - The Pudz
- "Discover Your Feet" - Student Nurse
- "Four Steps Toward a Cultural Revolution" - The Beakers
- "We'll Always Be in Love" - Jim Basnight
- "Someone Else's Room" - The Fastbacks
- "White Power" - The Refuzors
- "Campain Speech" - The FartzThe FartzThe Fartz were originally formed in 1981 and were one of the first well-known hardcore bands from Seattle, Washington. They were signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Record label...
- "Party 88" - The 88's
Side B
- "Young Man" - The Blackouts
- "I'm 37" - The Macs
- "Love Is a Tractor" - Philippo Scrooge
- "Stationary Dance" - Savant
- "The Politics of Ecstasy" - Body Falling Downstairs
- "21.252" - K7SS